Original Silver Bullet Band drummer Charlie Martin sings “Let it Rock” Saturday at the Don Was Detroit All-Star Revue tribute to “‘Live’ Bullet” at the Concert of Colors in Detroit. Dustin Blitchok-The Oakland Press

Mayssa Karaa sings “Turn the Page” in Arabic on Saturday at the seventh annual all-star revue organized by musician and producer Don Was (right) at the Concert of Colors festival in Detroit. This year’s all-star show paid tribute to Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band’s “‘Live’ Bullet.” Dustin Blitchok-The Oakland Press

DETROIT >> At a music festival that celebrates diversity, an all-star tribute to Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band’s “‘Live’ Bullet” lived up to the theme Saturday, July 12, with interpretations ranging from “Turn the Page” sang in Arabic to “Travelin’ Man” with electric bagpipes and guest appearances by Silver Bullet members who played on the album.

Musician, producer and Oak Park High School grad Don Was — whose producing credits include Seger, Bonnie Raitt, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan — made Seger’s iconic live album the focus of his seventh all-star revue at the Concert of Colors festival. He said the show’s successful mélange of styles speaks to the source material.

“It’s a testament to Bob Seger’s talent as a songwriter,” he said.

Seger himself was rumored to have stopped by the venue, the Max M. Fisher Music Center, but didn’t appear onstage. “‘Live’ Bullet,” recorded 39 summers ago at Cobo Hall, stands as one of the defining live albums of the 1970s and marked the beginning of Seger’s turn toward national recognition after years of dues-paying.

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The Corktown Popes’ take on “Travelin’ Man” early in the set brought a driving beat to the song with a mandolin and electric bagpipes in the mix, followed by “Beautiful Loser,” with Jess Domain providing a soulful lead vocal. 1960s Detroit soul singer Spyder Turner’s vocals and footwork were a highlight with “I’ve Been Working.”

The creative peak of the night came from Lebanese-American singer Mayssa Karaa, who sang most of the verses of “Turn the Page” in Arabic, bringing an appreciative audience to its feet. Saxophonist Dave McMurray played the notes made famous by Alto Reed. Karaa previously covered Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” in Arabic, for the “American Hustle” movie soundtrack last year.

When The Detroit Cobras took the stage for “Bo Diddley,” guitarist Mary Ramirez was wearing a Silver Bullet Band varsity jacket, and the band name-checked Seger in the song as well as seguing into a bit of his rarely performed 1970 single “Lucifer.”

A younger generation of Detroit rock was represented by Blaire Alise & The Bombshells, a year-and-a-half-old band that’s turned heads recently at Blowout and elsewhere. Lead singer Alise’s energy and rockabilly vibe jibed well with Seger’s frenetic “Get Out of Denver,” as bassist Was looked on approvingly from his position near the drum kit.

Was said the idea for the track-by-track tribute to “‘Live’ Bullet” came from Oakland Press music writer Gary Graff.

“He said, ‘Why don’t you do a classic Detroit album — and do the whole album?’” With most albums running about 36 minutes, Was said, Graff suggested “‘Live’ Bullet,” a double LP that clocks in at over an hour.

Original Silver Bullet Band drummer Charlie Martin and guitarist Drew Abbott, both of whom played in the shows that became “‘Live’ Bullet,” joined for the encore “Let It Rock.” Martin, who uses a wheelchair after being struck by a car and paralyzed from the waist down in 1977, took center stage and belted out most of the song’s vocals.

After the cross-section of Detroit musicians streamed off the stage at the Max, Was was smiling backstage behind his signature round sunglasses.

“It was a trip,” he said. “When you start with great songs, you’re going to have a great show.”